Egg container



H. C. REESER EGG CONTAINER May 27, 1952 Filed July 19, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR 15(4/PRY ClPEiJA-R ATTORNEY H. C. REESER EGG CONTAINER May 27, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 19, 1949 E ATTORNEY H. C. REESER May 27, 1952 EGG CONTAINER 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 19, 1949 INVENTOR AQ/FWY 6. 5555? ATTORNEY Patented May 27, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE EGG CONTAINER Harry (I. Reeser,North Hollywood, Calif., assignor to The Patent and Licensing Corporation, Ne w York, N. Y., a corporation of Massachusetts Application July 19, 1949, Serial No. 105,492

3 Claims. (Cl. 229-15) Thisinvention relates to shipping containers and is particularly concerned with compartmented containers adapted for the shipment of eggs and made of corrugated or solid fiberboard, boxboard or similar strong light-weight foldable sheet material.

In the shipment of eggs and similar commodities which require relatively frequent inspection and are highly susceptible to injuryby external impact, it is desirable to employ containers which will provide efiective protection from the hazards of shipment and handling and will sustain compression loading of superposed containers and which, at the same time, are adapted to be'easily opened at frequent intervals and again securely closed. It is also desirable that such containers not only protect the contentsfrom injury by impact or pressure but also that they resist infiltrationof dirt, soot, and the-like to which the containers may be subjected in transit. It is also desirable that containers of this-type be capable of being shipped in the form of fiat blanks which may be readily and quickly assembled by the prospective'user. Egg shipping containers heretofore made of light-weight foldable material have generally had one or more practical disadvantages from the standpoint of meeting-theabove criteria. For example, they-involve acomplicated body andv cover construction which hinders readyaccess to the contents, are diificult to manufacture or assemble, are bulky to ship when empty, or do not provide the desirable protection for their contents, particularly protection both against impact and pressure and against infiltration of dirt.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved compartmented container for eggs and the like.

It is a further object of the invention toprovide a container of the character indicated which provides increased protection for the contents and has greater general efficiency and desirability as compared with known containers.

It iS-a still further object of the invention to provide a compartmented container which will protect the contents against injury by impact or compression forces from any direction and which vwill also resist the infiltration of dirt, soot and the like.

Another object of. the invention is to provide a container of the character indicated which has a detachable cover adapted to-be'securely locked to thebody of the container but which is readily removable therefrom.

Another object of the invention is to provide 2' a compartmented container which can be shipped in the form of fiat or folded blanks and which can be easily and quickly assembled by the prospective user.

According to the invention, I provide a compartmented shipping container which may be readily assembled from flat blanks of light-weight foldable sheet material which are designed to form a body portion having a double thickness of material at the bottom, side walls and. end walls thereof, and a removablecover which is designed to interlock with the body to provide a closure which will effectively prevent infiltration of dirt but which maybe easily removed from the body portion to permit unrestricted access to the interior thereof. The double thickness of material provides ashock absorbing cushion and reinforces the container, thereby permitting it to withstand compression forces from any direction.

Briefly described, my container comprises a case having a bottom, side walls and end walls,

aliner member having portions coextensivewith the bottomv and end walls ofthe case, a partition member forming a double. transverse partition provided with extensions which overlie the side walls of the, case, and a detachable cover having integral lockingfiaps which interlock with the end walls of the case and having integral side flanges which are adapted to be received between the side walls .of the case and the partition extensions. The combination of these container members provides a container which not only protects the contents from external impact and from infiltration of airborne material but also provides an effective load bearing surface which will withstand compression loading of superposed containers.

Other object and features of the invention willv beapparent from the following detailed description and from the drawings, in which Fig. 1 isa perspective view of an embodiment ofthe. invention,

Fig. 2 isaperspective view. showing the cover member lifted awayfrom the body of the container,

Fig. 3 is a view in section taken approximately along the.line-3--3 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 4 is an end elevationofthe-container,

Fig. 5 is a view in section taken approximately alongthelineE-S of Fig. 3,

Fig. 6 .is an enlarged view of the upper -lefth,and- .corner of Fig. 5,-

Fig. .7 is an enlarged view of the upper right: hand corner ,of Fig. 3,

Fig. 8 is a plan view of ablank from which'ma 3 be formed the partition member of the container,

Fig. 9 is a plan view of a blank for the cover member,

Fig. 10 is a plan view of a blank for the liner member, and

Fig. 11 is a plan view of a blank for the body portion of the container.

Referring to the drawings and particularly to Figs. 8, 9, 10 and 11 there are shown four fiat blanks which have been cut and scored to permit fabrication of a container embodying features of the present invention. These blanks may be formed from fiat sheets of corrugated fiberboard, solid fiberboard, boxboard or other similar foldable material which is light-weight yet possesses adequate flexibility and strength for the purposes of the invention.

Shown in Fig. 11 is a substantially rectangular blank, designated generally by the numeral l5, adapted to form the outer body portion, or case, of my container. Blank has been transversely scored to define rectangular side wall panels l6 and H, adapted to form the sides of my container, an end wall panel l3 flexibly con nected to the outer edge of side panel I6 along score line l9, and an end wall panel 20 positioned between side panels 16 and I1 and flexibly connected thereto along score lines 2| and 22, respectively. The bottom of the container is formed by bottom flaps 25, 26, 21 and 28, flexibly connected along score line 26 to the lower edge of panels [6, l1, l8 and 20, respectively. A relatively narrow attaching flap 30 for use in joining the ends of blank l5 when the case is assembled is flexibly connected to the outer edge of side wall panel I! along a score line 3!. Hand holes 33 and 34 are centrally positioned in the upper portion of end wall panels l8 and 26, respectively.

End wall and bottom reinforcement and padding for my container are provided by a substantially rectangular liner member adapted to be inserted in the case formed from blank I5. This liner member, shown in Fig. 10, is designated generally by the numeral 35 and is transversely scored to define a central bottom liner panel 36 and end wall liner panels 31 flexibly connected to the outer ends thereof along parallel score lines 39. The partition member of my container is designated generally by the numeral 40, and, as shown in Fig. 8, is formed from a rectangular fiat blank of sheet material cut and scored to define two central partition panels 42 flexibly connected to each other along a transverse score line 43. Slots 44 collinear with, and extending outwardly from each end of score line 43 define side extensions 45 flexibly joined to the side edges of partition panels 42 along parallel score lines 46.

The blanks I5, 35 and 40 are adapted to form the body portion of my container and it will be understood that they are suitably dimensioned to permit assembly in interfitted relationship, as shown, for example in Fig. 2. The three blanks may be shipped flat, thereby requiring a minimum of space, and may be quickly and easily assembled by the packer.

To assemble the body portion of the, container, blank [5 is bent upwardly'along the transverse score lines l9, 2| and 22 into the form of a rectangular tube, and the attaching strip 30, folded along score line 3|, is secured, as by staples 41, or other convenient securing means, to end wall panel l8. The bottom flaps 25, 26, 21 and 28 are then folded inwardly along score line 29 and secured in position, as by an adhesive strip 48. If desired, the stapling operation whereby attaching strip 30 is secured to end wall panel l8 may be carried out by the manufacturer and the partly assembled case shipped in collapsed condition to the packer who can then readily set up the case and attach the adhesive strip 48. The liner member is erected by bending end wall liner panels 31 upwardly at right angles to bottom liner panel 35. The assembled liner is then directed into the assembled case in such a way that panel overlies the bottom formed by bottom flaps 25, 23, 2'! and 28 and the liner panels 31 overlie end walls It and 20. The partition member is assembled by folding partition panels 42 downwardly along score line 43, and then bending side extensions 45 outwardly along score lines 46 at right angles to partition panels 42. The assembled partition is inserted in the assembled case, preferably with the free ends of panels 42 extending downwardly. Referring to Fig. 2, it will be observed that the combination of blanks I5, 35 and provides a container having a double thickness of material forming the bottom and four walls thereof. The liner 35 overlies the bottom and end walls of the case formed by the assembled blank I5, and the side extensions overlie the side walls 16 and I1. This provides a cushioned container highly resistant to impact and compression forces. It will also be observed that the panels 31 of the liner member cover the hand holes 33 and 34 with the result that the contents of the container will be protected from contact by hands inserted in the hand holes when the container is carried.

The blank for the cover member of my container is shown in Fig. 9 and is designated generally by the numeral 50. Blank 50 is longitudinally and transversely scored to define a central rectangular panel 52. Extending outwardly from the ends of panel 52 are trapezoidal cover flaps 53, flexibly connected thereto along score lines 55. Cover flaps 53 have outwardly converging sides which terminate in locking tabs 51 defined by transverse score lines 59.- Longitudinal score lines 62 define elongated rectangular side strips or flanges 54 extending along the sides of panel 52. The flanges 64 are substantially co-extensive with panel 52 but terminate just short of the ends thereof.

As shown in Fig. 2, the cover is readily assembled from blank 50 by bending the trapezoidal side flaps 53 and flanges 64 downwardly'at right angles to panel 52. In directing the cover into position to close the container, flanges 64 are inserted between the partition extensions 45 and the adjacent side walls l6 and I1, where they are held by frictional engagement and form a barrier against infiltration of dirt. The cover is locked in position by inserting the locking tabs 5! through the hand holes 33 and 34 and then bending the tabs upwardly into the space between the end walls [3 and 20 and the end wall panels 31 of liner 35. The tabs are automatically held in locked position by frictional engagement. It will be observed that the trapezoidal cover flaps 53 extend over the upper edges and downwardly over the outer surface of end walls l8 and 23. These flaps in combination with the liner panels 31 resist the infiltration of dirt. In addition, the cover provides the container with a load-bearing surface which will easily sustain compression loading of several tiers of egg cases. The cover is, however, readily removed when the case is to be opened for inspection or unloading. The locking flaps 51 may be pulled with the fingers downwardly and outwardly through the hand holes and the cover lifted off the container.

Since certain changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims, it is intended that all matter contained in the drawings and in the foregoing description shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. A compartmented container for the shipment of eggs and the like which comprises, in combination, a substantially rectangular case having a bottom, side walls and end walls, an elongated liner member disposed interiorly of said case and having a portion coextensive with the bottom of said case and adjacent portions coextensive with the interior surface of said end walls, a partition member having a pair of flexibly connected panels disposed adjacent one another centrally of said case and dividing said case into two compartments, each of said panels having extensions overlying the inner surface of said side walls, and a detachable cover member having locking means at each end thereof for securing said cover to said end walls and having a flexibly connected flange at each side thereof and extending substantially the full length thereof for insertion downwardly between said side walls and said panel extensions.

2. A compartmented container for the shipment of eggs and the like which comprises, in combination, a substantially rectangular case having a bottom, side walls and ends walls, each of said end Walls being provided with hand holes, an elongated liner member disposed interiorly of said case and having a portion coextensive with the bottom of said case case and adjacent portions coextensive with the interior surface of said end walls and covering said hand holes, a partition member having a pair of flexibly connected panels disposed adjacent one another centrally of said case and dividing said case into two compartments, each of said panels having extensions overlying the inner surface of said side walls, and a detachable cover member having locking means at each end thereof for engaging the hand holes in said end walls and having a flexibly connected flange at each side thereof and extending substantially the full length thereof for insertion downwardly between said side walls and said panel extensions.

3. A compartmented container for the shipment of eggs and the like which comprises, in combination, a substantially rectangular case having a bottom, side walls and end walls, hand holes in said end walls, an elongated liner member disposed interiorly of said case and having a portion coextensive with the the interior surface of said end walls and covering said hand holes, a partition member having a pair of flexibly connected panels disposed adjacent one another centrally of said case and dividing said case into two compartments, each of said panels having extensions overlying the inner surface of said side walls, and a detachable cover member having locking flaps at each end thereof for insertion inwardly through said hand holes and for frictional engagement between said end walls and said liner, and a flexibly connected flange at each side therof and extending substantially the full length thereof for insertion downwardly between said side walls and said panel extensions.

HARRY C. REESER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,697,969 Boeye Jan. 8, 1929 2,081,419 Benschoter May 25, 1937 2,315,094 Rehfield Mar. 30, 1943 2,326,947 Hurrey Aug. 17, 1943 2,344,999 Newsom Mar. 28, 1944 2,351,825 Limbert June 20, 1944 2,395,363 Williams Feb. 19, 1946 2,404,704 Guyer July 23, 1946 2,454,029 Bentham NOV. 16, 1948 

